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De Oil, Sandoval, Alvarado, and feveral others, fhould reach that part 

 of the army of the enemy which was the poft of their general in chief, 

 who was diftinguifhed by a ftandard, arms covered wi^ gold, and a 

 great penache ornamented in the fame manner. As foon as Cortes per- 

 ceived the chief who bore the ftandard, and who was furrounded by 

 many others bearing alfo great penaches of gold, he cried out to Alva- 

 rado, Sandoval, De Oli, Avila, and the reft, "Now gentlemen, let 

 " us charge them." Then, recommending themfelves to God, they 

 rode into the thickeft of them, and Cortes with his horfe ftruck the 

 Mexican chief, and threw down the ftandard ; the cavaliers who fup- 

 ported him at the fame moment effed:ually breaking this numerous 

 body. The chief who bore the ftandard, not having fallen, in the 

 charge made upon him by Cortes, Juan de Salamanca, mounted on his 

 good pyed mare, purfued him, and having killed him, feized the rich 

 penache which he bore, and prefented it to Cortes, faying, that as he 

 had given the Mexican general the firft blow, and ftruck down his ftan- 

 dard, the trophy of the conqueft was due to him. 



It was God's will, that, on the death of their general, and of many 

 other chiefs who furrounded him being known, the enemy ftiould re- 

 lax in their efforts, and begin to retreat. As foon as this was perceived 

 by us, we forgot our hunger, thirft, fatigue, and wounds, and thought 

 of nothing but victory, and purfuit. Our cavalry followed them up 

 clofe, and our allies, now become lions, mowed down all before them 

 with the arms v/hich the enemy threw away in their flight. 



As foon as our cavalry returned from the purfuit, we all gave 

 thanks to God, for never had there appeared fo great a force together in 

 that country, being the whole of the warriors of Mexico, Tezcuco, 

 and Saltocan, all determined not to leave a trace of us upon the earth. 

 The whole nobility of thefe nations were affembled, magnificently 

 armed, and adorned Vvith gold, penaches, and devices. This battle 

 was fought near a place named Obtumba. I have frequently feen it 

 fcpreicRted in paintings amongft the Mexicans, in the fame manner as 



I have 



